Attachment control for toggle switch



Dec. 6, 1955 w. E. BERNDSEN ATTACHMENT CONTROL FOR TOGGLE SWITCH FiledApril 6, 1953 V INVENTOR. W/LL/AM E Egan/050v ATTQENE Y5 United StatesPatent ATTACHIVIENT CONTROL FOR 'TOGGLE SWITCH William E. Berndsen,Cleveland, Ohio Application April 6, 1953, Serial No. 347,078 4 Claims.(Cl. 200172) This invention relates to an attachment, or attachmentcontrol for use with a pivotally positioned control arm used to operatea toggle or other similar type of a wall switch.

Switches of the type referred to herein are the conventional wall switchas used in most residences and commercial buildings today. Such switcheshave a toggle arm pivotally extending through a cover plate forcontrolling the setting of the switch, usually by a snap action. Ofcourse, other types of switches, such as mercury switches and othertypes of rotary or pivotal movement switches are in use and theinvention is applicable to use with any type of a switch having apivotally positioned control arm extending from the switch. 7

It is well known that wall switches of the type referred to arepositioned at a height of 4 to feet above the floor usually so that theswitches can be easily oper ated by adults. Thus small childrenattempting to operate such a switch either must pull a chair over to theswitch in order to reach it, or else the children stretch up along thewall so that the children frequently deposit a lot of dirt or make otherunsightly marks on the wall adjacent the switch. Furthermore, the smallchild may climb upon a chair or other relatively high article for thechild in order to reach the switch. Obviously, it is dangerous for thesmall children to be climbing on the chairs and reaching out or leaningout from the chair for switch operation, particularly where the switchmay be near an open stairway.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved control attachment for use with conventionalwall switches, which control is characterized by the simplicity ofdesign there of and by the ease of attachment or securement of thecontrol to the light switch.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a control attachmentfor use with a pivotal control arm type of a switch wherein the controlcan be attached to the light switch on the exposed control arm thereofwith out any interference with or change of the means positioning theelectric switch and cover plate to the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensivecontrol attachment for a light switch which attachment is completelysafe for use with the switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cap member forengagement with the operating lever of an electric switch, and toprovide a control suspended from such cap member for operating theswitch at a point remote from the switch.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

As indicated hereinbefore, the control member of the inventionparticularly relates to a cap means that is adapted to cover the exposedend of a control arm which protrudes pivotally from a conventional wallswitch, and

means are provided for securing the cap to the control arm, while acontrol is carried by the cap means and extends therefrom so that thecontrol arm and the switch connected thereto can be operated at a pointremote from the switch by the control.

Attention now is respectfully directed to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a conventional type. of an electric switchhaving a pivotally positioned control arm with acontrol attachmentembodying the principles of theinvention being associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away and shown in verticalsection, of the switch andcontrol at tachment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a control member comprising a modificationof the control of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary side elevation of a further modification of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the details of the structure shown in the drawings, thenumeral 1 is used to refer to a cover plate secured to a conventionalswitch box 2 which is positioned in a suitable recess formed in a wall3. Any desired type of a known electric switch 2a is positioned withinthe switch box 2 and has a control arm 4 protruding through a hole 5provided in the cover plate 1. Pivotal movement of the control arm 4 isprovided in the switch for controlling the setting or action of theswitch to determine whether or not electrical energy is transmittedthrough the electrical circuit connected to such switch. Usually theelectric switch maybe some type of a toggle arm control switch whereinthe control arm 4 can be pivoted relatively readily from its upper toits lower position or vice versa to change the setting of the switch.

The novel features of the invention particularly relate to an attachmentcontrol provided for engagement with the control arm 4 to permitoperation of such control arm from a. point remote thereto. Thus asuitable cap member is engaged with the outer end of the control arm 4.In Figs. 1 and 2 a plastic molded cap 6 is shown provided with a hollowrecessed inner surface 7 extending from the base portion of the capmember and with such recess 7 smoothly engaging the outer end of thecontrol arm 4. The cap member 6 extends axially be yond the control arm4 and has a suitable opening 8 formed therein for receipt of a controlarm 9 usually threaded through the opening 8 prior to engagement of thecap 6 with the control arm 4. Usually the control arm 9 has a ball orknob 14) formed on or suitably secured thereto on its inner end forengaging the cap 6 at the margins of the opening 8 in a pivotal mannerfor free pivotal action of the control arm 9. The control arm 9 is ofany desired length and normally would be suspended directly verticallyfrom the cap 6. If desired a little knob 11 is formed on or threadedlyor otherwise engaged with the lower end of the control arm to facilitateengagement therewith.

The cap 6 is retained in engagement with the control arm 4, for example,by a set screw 12 carried by the cap 6 and brought into pressurizedengagement with the adjacent surface of the control arm 4 so that thecap is fixedly secured in position.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a controlarm 4a extends from a cover plate It: and is in pivotal engagement withthe switch for controlling the fiow of current therethrough. In thisinstance, a pair of cover plates 13 and 14 are provided for engagingwith opposed faces of the control arm 40:.

Patented Dec. 6, 1955 The cover plates 13 and 14 are brought intoengagement with the control arm by conventional means, such as bolts 15,that engage flanges 16 provided on the cover plates 13 and 14 and extendtherebetween for securing the cover plates in position in a desiredmanner.

readily and snugly. The cover plate 14 has a slot or hole 17 provided inan end portion thereof and such slot 17 receives a control rod or arm9atherein which is at least substantially rigid. The control rod or arm9.2 has a ball 10:: or other engaging member provided on or secured toits inner end which is retained in pivotal engagement with such coverplate 14 when the cover plates are engaged with the control arm 4a.This-embodiment of the invention avoids any possible danger of excessivelocalized pressures being applied to the. control arm of the electricswitch and avoids any possibility of damage to such control arm.

The structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is one type of a control that maybe engaged with a control arm having a hole therethrough for switchcontrol from a point remote to the switch. A conventional switch 2X hasa pivotal control arm 18 extending therefrom for arcuate movement tocontrol the switch. Control arm 18 has a hole 19 extending therethroughand it receives a bolt 20, or similar member, used to secure a yoke 21carried by a control rod 22 thereto. Hence proper movement of thecontrol rod 22 will move the control arm 18 to actuate the switch andturn it on or oflf. In some instances, other connection means may beused to secure the control rod 22 to the control arm 18 by engaging ahole or recess therein and such means may comprise a shaft, or ballportion provided on the. control rod.

The cap means of the invention, including the cap 6 and the cover plates13 and 14 may be made from any suitable material, such as metal orplastic, and they may be of any desired color. The recess 7 may be madesmaller than shown to have the ball 10 seat in the recess for pivotalmovement but to be held against objectionable vertical motion in turninga switch on and off. In some instances, the cap and cover means providedin the invention could be in resilient or snap engagement with a controlarm, for example, by securing the cover plates 13 and 14 together byspring means. The outer shape of the cap and cover means may be of anysuitable design, or shape.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a relatively simple,inexpensive type of an attachment has been provided which can be readilyand easily engaged with a conventional electric switch by being securedto the con- The. inner surfaces of the cover plates are suitablyrecessed complementary to the control arm 4a to engage therewith.

at a remote point, usually a place below the switch so that a smallchild can operate the switch safely without having to climb upon anychair or similar member to reach the light switch. Of course, after thechild grows and can reach the switch at its normal height, then theattachment of the invention can be removed from the control arm withoutany permanent injury thereto and the switch can be used in aconventional manner thereafter. In view of the foregoing and as theattachment of the invention avoids any difiiculties in small childrenreaching a light switch positioned at a conventional height, it iscontended that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, itwill be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments ofthe invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment control for a wall switch with a control arm pivotallyextending therefrom, which con trol comprises cap means for engaging acontrol arm, means for securing, said cap means to the control arm, anda control; member carried by said cap means by a ball and socket jointfor universal movement and extending therefrom for actuation of thecontrol arm from a point remote thereto.

2. An attachment control as in claim 1 wherein said cap means comprisesa pair of members for engaging opposed surfaces of the control, arm, andmeans extending between said members to secure them to the control arm.

3. An attachment control as in claim 1 wherein said cap means comprisesa unitary hollow plastic member snugly engaging two pairs of opposedsurfaces of the control arm, and said securing means comprises a setscrew carried by said cap means for bearing on the control arm.

4. An attachment control for a wall switch with a control arm pivotallyextending therefrom, which control comprises a plastic cap means havinga slot in one wall thereof and a ball socket on an inner surface at theslot therein for engaging the end portion of a control arm, means forsecuring said cap means to the control arm, and a control member havinga ball shaped end pivotally engaging said ball and socket of said capmeans and extending therefrom through said slot.

7 References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,580,905 Foster Ian. I, 1952

